Ardden Entertainment is proud to announce that it will release an exclusive hardcover edition of their FLASH GORDON 75TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL during next month's New York Comic-Con, a year after the release of the now almost-impossible-to-find FLASH GORDON #0.

The Anniversary Special will feature the work of some of the most legendary creators in recent comic book history. The stellar line up includes writers Joe Casey, Tom DeFalco, J.M. DeMatteis, Brendan Deneen, Jim Krueger, Denny O'Neill, and Len Wein and artists Mike Cavallaro, Pedro Delgado, Paul Green, Shanth Enjeti, Shawn McManus, Omaha Perez, and Joe Staton. Many of these creators will be on hand at the convention to sign the book!

The Anniversary Special takes place shortly after the events chronicled in FLASH GORDON #1-6, aka THE MERCY WARS, and shows what happens when Flash, exploring by himself in the mountains of Mongo, comes across a strange device that allows him to peer into Mongo's past. He discovers more than he ever imagined possible about both friends and enemies alike!

J.M. DeMatteis, Editor-in-Chief of Ardden Entertainment, comments, "It's been a genuine pleasure assembling this tribute to one of the great pop culture icons, working with an amazing array of talented writers and artists. I'm incredibly proud of this project and I think that both hard-core Flash Gordon fans and new readers are going to enjoy Ardden's 75th birthday salute."

As if that wasn't enough, Ardden Entertainment is going to give one lucky comic book fan the night of his or her life! During the first two days of the convention, fans who purchase the FLASH GORDON 75TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL will have their names entered into a drawing. At the end of the convention day on Saturday, February 7th, Ardden will pick one fan's name. That lucky winner will win a free dinner out in New York City with a number of the legendary creators who worked on the Anniversary Special!

Flash Gordon first debuted 75 years ago this week and was created by Alex Raymond, who redefined comic strips and science fiction from that day forward.

Ardden Entertainment is the publisher of the new critically-acclaimed monthly FLASH GORDON series that has recently seen a complete sell out of issues #1, #2, and #3, with issue #4 hitting comic book stores nationwide later this month. Ardden also recently announced the upcoming spy thriller comic book series THE STAND-IN, written by Jim Krueger and with art by Alex Cal, which will debut at the New York Comic-Con as well. The company—whose business model is to produce contemporized versions of classic licenses and exciting new creator-owned titles—was formed in mid-2007 by former Miramax/Dimension Films executive Brendan Deneen and former Markosia Editor-in-Chief, Richard Emms. The company is set announce two more books in the weeks leading up to NYCC. Joining Deneen and Emms is veteran comic book creator and writer, J.M. DeMatteis, who was announced as Ardden's EiC at last year's New York Comic-Con.